To Cranberry or not to Cranberry

[85236442968]

Hey Warriors

Have any of you had your RO suggest (suggest not require) that you drink Cranberry juice 2 times a day during your radiation Treatments and for a few weeks after?

Well the one managing my radiation did suggest it. I took it as this is a thing the Dr. likes but it really does not have any data to back it up. He even gave me a small pamphlet on it. The pamphlet said that it could help with urinary tract issues but no studies had proved it.

Well I felt it could not hurt so I started doing the cranberry thing twice a day, 1 week prior to, then thru my radiation and for 4 weeks after.

So I am going to shift gears a bit here but I will come back to cranberry.

I have 2 grandchildren that are in the 2nd grade and preschool. At least one of then or both are at our house for while each day. Grandchildren are a blessing I do hope all of your can experience some day, but when they come home from preschool or school they have been dipped into a petri dish of every virus and bacteria that is currently going around. You know this but still give them a hug because some times you need it, and you still wipe there noses and such because you are a grandparent.

Anyway we always seemed to be fighting something that that grandkids gave us. Sniffles, a slight cough a one day fever, etc.

Now back to radiation, When I finished the radiation I did the cranberry juice for the suggested 4 weeks. Then enough is enough.

2 weeks later I had a head cold and the sniffles and just overall felt bad. The grand kids were going thru the spring sniffles and coughs also.

On reflection It dawned on me that thru the radiation (which included Christmas and New Years such) I could not recall having any of this stuff.

Hmmmm.

Well I have cranberry juice back in the fridge and a have glass at lunch and in the evening every day.

And I do not care what the studies say. I think it was a shot of Vit C and other things that kinda/sorta helped me. Might be all wrong and then again it did work for me.

I am sure like with a lot of supplements, I will change some day, but for now Cranberry is one of my favorites.

[pd63]

I thought cranberry juice was a diuretic and should be avoided during radiation to avoid urinary problems maybe I'm wrong just my 10 cents worth on the matter

[85236442968 in reply to pd63]

pd63

It does have some diuretic traits.

Here is what Chat GPT has to say

Cranberry juice is believed to act as a diuretic, which means it can increase urine production and help flush out excess water and salt from the body12. Cranberry is also acidic and can interfere with unwanted bacteria in the urinary tract1. Cranberry juice has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in preventing symptoms such as pain or burning with urination1.

Anyway, I am not advocating it, just a post saying it worked well for me and maybe had a few other beneficial attributes.

As my post title is "To Cranberry or not to Cranberry" I believe this choice is everyones based on their preferences and their own data search.

Best of luck on your prostate journey, by your profile it is similiar to mine so far.

[lowT163 in reply to pd63]

It was given to me to fight the bleeding from the radiation. And I had that. Guess it helped.

[toothdoctor123]

Cranberry extract has been used in women's health forever - to avoid or treat UTIs. And for alot of women it works. Interesting to see this now as I start radiation next week.

[Still_in_shock]

I just LOVE cranberry juice.

POM brand, no other brand, others water it down add sugar, and mix it with other juices.

[tn12 in reply to Still_in_shock]

Isn't POM pomegranate juice?

[JustAnotherCancer in reply to tn12]

Oh right. 😱

[Still_in_shock in reply to JustAnotherCancer]

My bad!!! Damn Lupron!!!

[Aussieguy1]

Yep my first Urologist suggested Cranberry juice after my initial biopsy.

He said to help prevent urinary tract infection.

But he also put me on an antibiotic. I liked the cranberry juice so no issue drinking it.

He said the juice helps protect the mucosal lining of the urinary tract. I just followed his lead. Anyway I followed on after second biopsy and after prostate surgery.

No infections. Who knows if it helps or not but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

[Ianrs]

It used to give me gout

[Explorer08]

Urologist said to use Knudsen unsweetened cranberry juice. It’s got a sharp taste so we cut it with water.

[inter100]

amazon.co.uk/Biona-Organic-...

I regularly consume this cranberry juice brand .It is made from pressed cranberries .It does have a sharp taste.

[Mgtd]

We gave it to our female dogs for UTIs.

[69CJ]

I take Cranbury tablets twice a day. Helps to control urine a bit.

[larry_dammit]

I have used it ( cranberry juice ) for years as a way to maintain a healthy prostate and cut down on infections. Works for me 😜😜

[j-o-h-n]

Yes or No............ but don't get bogged down in deciding.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[dhccpa]

How about just eating whole cranberries?

[85236442968 in reply to dhccpa]

Dhccpa

I do not know much about the whole ones other than once a year at Thanksgiving dinner.

However, I found this so you can make your own judgement.

What I got was 2 oz of 100% juice is eq to 1/4 cup of berries.

Picture of cranberry juice in a glass.

[dhccpa in reply to 85236442968]

Thanks. I always veer toward the whole fruit version, but some prefer juice.

[Ron53]

My RO suggested I take 2 AZO cranberry urinary tract health capsules daily when I developed a slight burning in the urinary tract from the radiation. AZO seems to help suppress that feeling. I continue to take them daily.

[85236442968]

All

Thanks for your comments on Cranberry. It seems to be pretty much a general felling that it is helpful.

I plan on using it daily.

Best wishes to all of you on your journeys. I have blood work next week, and then follow-up PET scan on April 8. I will post about the results.

[groundhogy]

Also look up pomegranate juice. Maybe similar but i think it fights PCa.

[NewPotatoCaboose]

Unfortunately for those of us also taking warfarin, cranberries are high in Vitamin K and cranberry products are discouraged.